Rebirth in Against the Gods with The Ultimate System

"We don't have much time. Follow this path right here," Xuanyuan Yufeng urged, her voice trembling with urgency. She pointed toward a narrow trail leading to a hidden cave formation nestled beneath jagged rocks. Holding her attendant close, she softly added, "It will lead you to my safehouse. I've ensured no one followed us. Now, go!"

Li Xuan hesitated, her wide eyes filled with confusion and worry. "Mistress, I don't understand…" she murmured, her voice shaky.

Yufeng placed a firm yet gentle hand on her shoulder. "Trust me, please. If they find out what I've done, they'll come after you. They'll... torture you. Li Xuan, you must go and wait for me there. Promise me!"

"Mistress…" Li Xuan's eyes brimmed with tears, her heart aching at the sight of her mistress going to such lengths for her safety.

"Are your parents still alive? Do you have anyone?" Yufeng asked, her tone softening.

Li Xuan shook her head, her tears flowing freely. "Mistress… my parents were killed by bandits. I'm an orphan. I was sold to the villa to be a servant. I've been alone my whole life." Her voice broke as she continued, "I've never known family or kindness… until you."

Yufeng's heart clenched at the girl's words. She pulled her into a tender embrace, holding her close as Li Xuan wept. "You are more than a servant to me. You are like a daughter," Yufeng whispered, her voice thick with emotion. "I cannot change the past, nor undo the horrors I caused when the demon of my past self was in control. I couldn't save the others... so many of them. Their faces... I can't even remember them. But you... you, I can save. And for all that I've done, all I ask is forgiveness from the heavens."

Li Xuan wiped her tears and looked up at Yufeng, her eyes filled with resolve. "Mistress, you have already been forgiven. If what you said is true, it is not you who is in control. You are kind to us—especially to me. When I was assigned to you, I was terrified. I thought I'd rather die than serve under the villa mistress everyone feared. But... you showed me nothing but kindness. A kindness I'd never known. I began to wonder if the cruel stories about you were just rumors."

Yufeng's eyes widened, her breath hitching as Li Xuan's words pierced through her guilt. The girl's bravery and faith had been a beacon in her darkest days. She realized that this young, fragile attendant—the only one who had dared to step forward—had become her light.

Yufeng placed her hands on Li Xuan's cheeks, her gaze fierce and determined. "You gave me hope when I thought I didn't deserve it. Now, I'll protect you with everything I have. You stayed by my side when I woke up, through everything until now. I couldn't save those poor women back then, but I can at least save one," Xuanyuan Yufeng said softly, patting Li Xuan's head before pulling her into a tight embrace again. "Go and wait for me." 

Li Xuan nodded, her eyes filled with trust and determination. "I will wait for you, Mistress," she said firmly, donning the cloak her mistress had prepared for her. With one last glance, she stepped into the shadows of the hidden cave, her heart heavy but resolute, trusting that everything would turn out all right. 

Yufeng stood for a moment, watching the cave entrance, then turned back to her quarters. She moved swiftly, packing her belongings into her spatial ring. Her mind raced. At the third level of the Emperor Profound Realm, she was powerful, but against Ling Tianni, she was no match. She had sabotaged the formation—tonight's plan would fail—but the consequences would be swift and severe. Only Ling Yuefeng and she had knowledge of the plan, and it wouldn't take long for suspicion to fall on her. 

As she finished, she reached for her special cloak, its enchantments designed for stealth and concealment. Just as she was about to slip it on, the doors to her room burst open. 

A group of villa guards stormed in, wielding a Profound Suppressor that radiated an oppressive aura. Yufeng immediately felt her cultivation plummet, her strength reduced to below the True Profound Realm. 

"Villa Mistress," one of the men said with a mocking tone, "we have orders to detain you." 

Yufeng took a deep breath, assessing her options. With her cultivation suppressed, resistance was futile. A sly smile played at her lips as she raised her hands in surrender. "Please," she said with a feigned tone of submission, "be gentle with me." 

Her eyes glimmered with hidden resolve—this was far from over.

As the guards grabbed Xuanyuan Yufeng's hands, she struck with deadly precision, activating her hidden blades. The dual blades sprang from beneath her wrists, piercing the throats of her captors in an instant. Blood sprayed as their lifeless bodies fell to the ground. Wasting no time, she seized one of their weapons—a heavy axe—and twirled it with surprising proficiency. 

She didn't question how or why these combat instincts came so naturally. Each movement felt both new and eerily familiar, as if muscle memory from a life she didn't recall had awakened within her. 

A guard lunged at her, and with a swift motion, she cleaved through his torso with the axe, using the weapon's backside to counter another who came from behind. The clash of steel and the grunts of her enemies filled the air. 

"Argh!" cried one, staggering back before falling lifeless. 

Another guard raised his sword to strike, but Yufeng leaped toward him with feline grace, driving a blade under his chin. His body went rigid before crumpling to the floor. Spotting an archer taking aim, she instinctively activated the Phantom Blade—a modification she had painstakingly crafted. The hidden blade ejected with a hiss, launching through the air to bury itself in the archer's neck. 

"Over here! She went through here!" shouted a voice from the corridor. 

Yufeng retracted the Phantom Blade from the fallen archer with a swift motion, reattaching it to her bracer. She didn't stop to admire her handiwork; the urgency of her escape drove her forward. 

She dashed through the villa after she donned her special hooded cloak, her movements agile and deliberate. Each step was calculated, her heightened senses attuned to every sound around her. The hidden knowledge she had tapped into was still a mystery—how she had come to design and master such a deadly art remained unclear. Yet, she had no time for reflection. 

"Find her!" another voice bellowed. 

Yufeng slipped into the shadows, her mind racing. These weapons, these skills—they had become her salvation. And tonight, they would lead her to freedom.

As Xuanyuan Yufeng glanced toward the villa, her heart ached. Thoughts of her children, Ling Yun and Ling Jie, flashed through her mind. They were far away in another wing of the estate, blissfully unaware of the chaos unfolding. A bittersweet smile touched her lips. 

"My children," she murmured softly, "forgive your mother for this. I may never remember holding you, nursing you, or raising you. But you are my flesh and blood. I will not drag you into this. You are adults now—live well and be happy." 

Tearing her gaze away, Yufeng leaped through the window, landing in a crouch on the ground below. Without hesitation, she sprinted to an empty courtyard, her eyes scanning for escape routes. 

A group of armed men awaited her, their weapons drawn. Undeterred, she reached into her robes and retrieved a small spherical object. With a swift motion, she hurled it to the ground. 

Boom! 

A thick cloud of smoke erupted, cloaking her movements. As the men scrambled to locate her, Yufeng activated her hidden blades. One blade pivoted sideward, extending into a pivoting blade. The pivot blade is a variant of the Hidden Blade that she crafted other than the Phantom Blade for her right hand.

Thanks to the development of the Pivot Blade, her left-handed Hidden Blade has become even deadlier, which allowed her to rotate the blade 90 degrees and wield it like a dagger. Silent as a shadow, she darted through the smoke, her strikes precise and deliberate. 

Inside the swirling smoke, it was her domain—a world where her enemies were helpless prey. Like a shadow given life, she moved with lethal precision, taking the men down one by one, her presence as terrifying as a demon from the depths. Each cry of pain and terror echoed faintly before being swallowed by the choking mist. 

The men struggled desperately, flailing their weapons and searching for an enemy they couldn't see. Yet, within the suffocating haze, she was everywhere and nowhere, the devourer of their hopes. 

Some attempted to escape the nightmare, running toward the edges of the smoke, but invisible hands seemed to pull them back, dragging them into the shrouded abyss. Their screams were cut short, replaced by a haunting silence. 

Others panicked, coughing and gasping for air, their voices hoarse as they shouted orders or begged for mercy. Yet, their cries only served to guide her to them. One by one, they fell, their bodies crumpling to the ground, never even glimpsing their attacker. 

The smoke became a graveyard of fading echoes, each breath and step snuffed out by the unseen predator within. To those outside, the sight was terrifying—a shifting cloud that swallowed men whole, leaving only the silence of the void in its wake. 

She slashed and disarmed, each blow designed to incapacitate rather than kill. Her goal was escape, not bloodshed. The smoke began to dissipate, revealing three men blocking her path. Their weapons were drawn, and their expressions betrayed their determination to stop her.

Yufeng's expression hardened, her body tensing like a coiled spring. With a flick of her wrist, she activated another modification to her Hidden Blade—a miniature revolver barrel mounted beneath it. This weapon, her most ambitious creation, had been tested only in secret, but its destructive potential was undeniable.

She raised her arm, the barrel locking into position.

Boom!

The first shot thundered, the bullet piercing through the shoulder of the nearest man with the force of a cannon. He cried out in pain, dropping his weapon as he collapsed to the ground.

"Ah!" Yufeng winced as the recoil from the hidden gun reverberated through her arm. The force of the shot, combined with the deafening sound, reminded her of just how powerful the weapon was. If it weren't for the protective bracers she had carefully crafted to absorb the impact, the explosive gunpowder burst might have seriously injured her hand.

She flexed her wrist to shake off the residual sting, silently thanking her foresight in designing the protective gear. This weapon is as much a blessing as it is a curse, she thought. Its power comes with a cost.

Gritting her teeth, she steadied herself. The hidden gun had proven its effectiveness, but she would need to be cautious about overusing it. The profound gunpowder she developed was volatile, and even the smallest miscalculation could lead to disaster.

Boom! Boom!

Two more rounds found their marks with mechanical precision. The remaining men fell in an instant, their unconscious bodies hitting the ground like discarded marionettes.

Yufeng exhaled sharply, glancing at the fallen men. "I'm sorry for this," she murmured, a flicker of remorse crossing her face.

She quickly assessed her weapon. Reloading the revolver barrel was time-consuming—a luxury she couldn't afford. Instead, she detached the spent barrel and replaced it with a fresh one pre-loaded with bullets coated in her custom profound gunpowder.

The soft click of the new barrel locking into place echoed in the now-silent courtyard. Yufeng steadied her breath, her resolve firm.

The courtyard was momentarily silent, save for her rapid breathing. Yufeng tightened her grip on her hidden blade, her resolve unshaken. 

As Yufeng secured the fresh barrel into place, a thought flickered in her mind. She recalled a moment when Yun Che had employed a similar method—a firearm-like technique—against the clones of Fen Juebi during the battle she had witnessed. His ingenuity and precision with such a weapon had caught her attention then, leaving her curious about his abilities.

Now, wielding her own invention, she couldn't help but wonder how the youngster had come to develop capabilities that mirrored her hidden knowledge. The resemblance in their methods was uncanny, as if their paths had intersected on some deeper level of understanding.

Could it be a coincidence? she mused, her grip tightening on the weapon. Or is there more to that boy than meets the eye?

Shaking the thought from her mind, she refocused on the task at hand. Whatever the connection might be, it was a question for another time. Right now, survival was her only priority.

Her heightened senses picked up the faint rustling of leaves and the sound of hurried footsteps approaching through the forest. Yufeng bolted forward, weaving through the trees. Each step was calculated, her body moving with practiced agility. She knew she couldn't afford to be caught—not now.

More men appeared from the shadows, their weapons gleaming under the faint moonlight. Yufeng swiftly attached a small metal tube to her hidden gun, a silencer she had meticulously crafted in secret. The suppressed weapon whispered as she fired, each shot finding its mark.

Boomf… Boomf…

The silenced rounds struck true, taking down her pursuers with precision. She wanted to use her Phantom Blade, but its single-use design meant she couldn't afford to lose it here. The Hidden Gun remained her only reliable option.

Yufeng vividly recalled the day she crafted the hidden gun, its design born from the mysterious knowledge embedded in her memories. The process had been intricate, but her profound energy and ingenuity turned theory into reality. 

The explosive powder, derived from a particular stone known for its use in creating high-powered explosives within the villa, became the foundation. With her profound energy, she compressed the powder into a dense, potent form that she used to coat a small metallic sphere—the projectile. Encasing the sphere in this compressed powder formed a compact, deadly bullet.

Her design revolved around a six-barrel chamber, each slot housing one of these bullets. The mechanism employed a revolving trigger primer, which functioned as a release system. When activated, it ignited the explosive powder, propelling the projectile forward with devastating force. 

What made the weapon extraordinary was its integration with her Profound Energy. By channeling her Emperor Profound Realm energy into the bullets, Yufeng could amplify their lethality, making them capable of killing opponents at her level or even higher. It was a weapon that combined ancient craftsmanship with modern ingenuity, a testament to the mysterious knowledge that had guided her hands.

She broke free from the forest only to find herself at the edge of a cliff. Below her stretched a dark, foreboding chasm, the depths shrouded in the night's shadows. Turning around, she saw the villa's forces closing in, their numbers overwhelming.

Suddenly, her strength faltered as a suppression formation activated, nullifying her cultivation. Her once formidable Emperor Profound Realm abilities dwindled to almost nothing, leaving her vulnerable.

The villa's men began to encircle her, their expressions a mixture of confidence and caution. Yufeng tightened her fists, her sharp mind calculating her next move. She couldn't rely on profound energy anymore. She would have to rely on her body and her skills.

Yufeng's movements were a blur of deadly precision. As the nearest man lunged, she sprang forward, her hidden blade extending with a metallic shink. The blade found its mark at his throat before she twisted gracefully to avoid a spear aimed at her side. She retaliated swiftly, driving her blade into the spearman's neck and ripping the weapon from his slackened grip.

Grasping the spear, Yufeng spun it like a seasoned warrior, delivering a crushing blow to a man's stomach. The force sent him staggering as she parried a sword strike from another assailant. With fluidity, she twisted the sword in the attacker's grip, turning his own weapon against him. A sharp gasp escaped his lips as the blade found its way into his chest.

The sound of rushing footsteps alerted her to another spear wielder charging in. Yufeng sidestepped his wild swing, her movements deliberate and measured, before snapping his neck with brutal efficiency. Another spear came at her, but she redirected its momentum, sending the weapon into an approaching ally. Without hesitation, she headbutted the man wielding the spear and followed it with a fierce punch, sending him sprawling.

A dagger-wielding assailant lunged at her next, but Yufeng was faster. She caught his wrist mid-strike, twisting it until he cried out in pain. With a flick of her wrist, she drove the blade he once held into his own stomach, his eyes widening in shock before he collapsed.

Taking a calculated leap backward, Yufeng brandished her dual hidden blades. The metallic sheen caught the moonlight, casting an eerie glint. Her stance was unwavering, her piercing gaze locking onto the remaining men.

The encroaching soldiers hesitated, the deadly display forcing them to reconsider their approach. Fear flickered in their eyes as they circled her cautiously, their confidence eroded by the unconscious plus dead bodies already lying at her feet. Yufeng, blood-smeared but undeterred, braced herself for their next move.

The men stared in disbelief, their confusion growing with each strike Xuanyuan Yufeng delivered. How could a woman with suppressed cultivation display such deadly precision and overwhelming skill? Her movements were fluid yet lethal, a seamless blend of hand-to-hand combat and innovative weaponry that left her pursuers bewildered. 

The blades concealed beneath her wrists were unlike anything they'd ever encountered. With a flick of her wrist, they extended and retracted, catching her enemies off guard. Their edges gleamed with an unnatural sharpness, slicing through defenses with ease. Worse still, the blades were rigged to explode, scattering deadly projectiles that tore through the men with ruthless efficiency. 

Each strike, each movement, hinted at a mastery that belied her lack of cultivation. The question gnawed at them as they fell one by one: where had she gained such knowledge? How had she crafted such an otherworldly weapon? It was as if she wielded secrets not of this world, and those secrets made her unstoppable. 

"Xuanyuan Yufeng!!"

A voice echoed through the air, sharp and commanding, and Yufeng instinctively raised her blades in response. The voice belonged to none other than Ling Tianni, the Sword Saint, her husband's father. He appeared before her, heavily injured, his once-pristine figure now a shadow of its former glory.

Their plans tonight failed.

The frost that clung to his body spoke volumes—he had fought against the experts of Frozen Cloud Asgard, a battle he had clearly lost. Yufeng could feel the tightening grip of danger around Cang Yue as the security around her would no doubt tighten after tonight.

But the most concerning part was the man standing beside Ling Tianni—her husband. His injuries mirrored his father's, and the bond between them was clear. Yet, it wasn't just their bodies that were broken, but their manipulations now unraveling before her eyes.

"Xuanyuan Yufeng!" Ling Tianni's voice was cold, accusing. "It was you... you sabotaged the formation! Only you and Yuefeng were there during the preparations!"

Yufeng's gaze hardened as she glanced at her husband. He stood there, a conflicted expression on his face, his eyes pleading for an explanation. His voice cracked with desperation. "Yufeng! What father says isn't true, right? Answer me!"

She surveyed the men surrounding her—each one a mere pawn in this twisted game. Her smile twisted into something far darker as she raised her hands in mock surrender. "Chuckle... I guess you caught me."

Ling Tianni's expression darkened, his anger palpable. His son, Ling Yuefeng, shot her a look of contempt, his heart torn by the woman who was supposed to be his partner. "My wife... you—"

"Don't call me 'my wife,' you monster!" Yufeng spat, her voice venomous. "I know about the Eternal Love Potion. You dare poison me and take my life away? I never agreed to any of this. I don't remember marrying you, Ling Yuefeng. All I remember are the lies you fed me, the manipulations you cloaked me in."

Her words rang with finality, each syllable cutting through the tangled web of deceit. Yufeng's sneer grew as she looked at the man she once thought she knew.

"No matter," she continued, her gaze now sharp and unwavering. "The moment the Mighty Heavenly Sword Region arrives in the next three weeks, they will know the truth. And this villa will lose its meaning. It will crumble."

Ling Tianni's eyes narrowed, his fury now mixed with disbelief. "You found out about his manipulation? How?" His voice trembled with a rare hint of fear, knowing that the truth, once exposed, would spell disaster for the villa and their backings would be lost. His plan was unraveling, and all he could do now was watch as it slipped from his grasp.

"*Chuckle... It doesn't matter anymore," Yufeng's voice rang out, cold and resolute. "Over twenty years of my life stolen from me. Dragged around like a calf, treated like mere breeding cattle, following your commands like a puppet. You will not control me any longer, Ling Yuefeng. A husband is a man I am willing to respect, love and comply with. But a devil like you? You are not a man I will serve!" Her words were sharp, filled with years of anger and betrayal that could no longer be suppressed.

Ling Tianni's voice was grim, his eyes locked on her with an icy resolve. "Yuefeng... she is a lost cause. We cannot let her live. If the sacred ground or her uncle finds out, the villa is finished. Not to mention, her father. Before this secret gets out, I will end her myself." With a wave of his hand, a massive sword light materialized, its energy crackling through the air. The men around them began dragging the surviving soldiers from the battle, but the dead lay motionless at their feet.

Yuefeng, his eyes filled with a mixture of sorrow and frustration, stepped forward, pulling out their marriage certificate. He spat his blood essence on it, sealing the divorce with finality. "With this, I formally divorce you, Xuanyuan Yufeng!" he said, his voice thick with emotion.

Yufeng's lips twisted into a bitter smile. "Save or control? You have a lot of nerve," she retorted, her voice unwavering. "Very well, I accept. The heavens have set me free, from you, from all of you! Being freed is the first step to my true liberation. I don't need to be tied to a vile man like you anymore."

"What of Ling Yun and Ling Jie?" He pleaded desperately, his voice cracking. "They are our children..."

"Indeed they are," Yufeng replied, her tone softer for a moment, but still resolute. "They are adults now. They don't need their mother anymore. I barely played my part when I was your slave. According to the servants, I barely converse with them. As they grew, they focused only on cultivating, forgetting I even existed. A sad truth I've had to accept. No matter what, they are still my children. Whether I remember them or not, a mother's love never wavers."

Ling Tianni clenched his fist. "Yuefeng... she must be silenced. The Chu sisters have already damaged our plans. If she knows too much, we can't let her live. The villa cannot afford it."

He raised his sword once more, the sword light shimmering with deadly intent. "Xuanyuan Yufeng, tell me how you tamper the formation and I might consider leaving your body intact."

"Yufeng... please," Ling Yuefeng's voice cracked, his tone pleading. "I can still save you. I can plead with Father to reduce your punishment. Please... be the wife you were meant to be..."

Yufeng's gaze hardened, her stance unwavering as the massive blade hovered in the air above her. The man before her, the one she once loved, was no longer the person she thought he was. She had seen through his lies, through his manipulations, and she had learned to stand on her own.

Xuanyuan Yufeng's gaze locked onto Ling Yuefeng's pleading eyes for the final time. Her heart hardened as she saw through the man she once loved, now reduced to nothing more than a manipulative, self-serving figure. The betrayal she had endured over the years—his poison, his control—was all too clear now. There was nothing left to salvage.

With a bitter resolve, she turned her back on him and faced the massive cliff before her. The wind howled as she felt the weight of the suppression formation holding her down, unable to fly. The only option left was a leap of faith—into the abyss below.

She trusted her instincts. She knew that if the heavens intended her to be saved, she would be. She believed her time was not yet up.

Yufeng took one last breath, her body coiled with tension as she ran toward the edge of the cliff. She could hear Ling Yuefeng's desperate shout, but it was too late.

"Yufeng!!"

Without hesitation, she leaped into the dark void below.

Her hands stretched wide, her body soaring through the air vividly accompanied by the sound of the eagle. She felt the sensation of weightlessness before she instinctively flipped mid-air moments before reaching the surface of the water, her muscle memory guiding her every move. She reached into her waist, pulling out a concealed knife. With a swift, practiced motion, she threw it into the still waters below, shattering the surface tension. The cold, dark river rushed to meet her as she plunged into the depths.

The men who had been chasing her stood at the edge of the cliff, watching in stunned silence. Ling Tianni's jaw clenched, and his hands trembled with fury.

"No…"

Ling Yuefeng's face went pale as his eyes fixed on the spot where she had vanished. His knees buckled, and he collapsed onto the cold ground, his hands pressed against his face in a mixture of anguish and disbelief.

His former wife had just thrown herself into the abyss before his eyes, and in that moment, it felt as though she had taken the last shred of his humanity with her.

Ling Tianni watched the spot where Xuanyuan Yufeng had disappeared, a sneer twisting his lips as he ordered the men to withdraw. The night had passed without her reappearing, but his mind couldn't rest. His mind reeled with the possibilities of how this could unfold. His son, Ling Yuefeng, was still on his knees by the cliff, a man broken by his own choices.

"Save me from killing her myself. Shame we couldn't extract the formation knowledge from her." Ling Tianni muttered darkly as he turned to leave, guiding the remaining men away from the cliff's edge. "There's nothing but sharp rocks and the fast current down there. Without her cultivation, she'll be claimed by the river's fury."

The words seemed hollow, even to him. After all the years of manipulation, of using Yufeng for his own gain, her escape was something he hadn't anticipated. As he led the group away, he felt the weight of impending doom hanging over him—the fallout would be devastating, and there would be no place left for him to hide when the truth of his actions came to light.

Back at the cliff, Ling Yuefeng remained, staring into the chasm where she had disappeared. His heart ached in ways he had never imagined. His vision blurred with tears as he whispered to the winds, "Yufeng… May the heavens have mercy on your soul."

His grief was consuming, and for the first time in years, he questioned everything. All he had ever wanted was control—control over her, control over her family, control over the villa. But now, with his former wife gone and his own soul crumbling, he was left with nothing. The woman he had betrayed had truly slipped through his fingers, and there was no turning back.

Meanwhile, far away from the formation's suppressive reach, Xuanyuan Yufeng stood in the shadow of the riverbank, her body slowly drying as she gathered herself. Her cultivation is back. The cold, merciless river had tried to claim her, but she had outwitted it. She had faked her death, using the knowledge and muscle memory embedded deep within her to survive the fall. If it weren't for this strange, mysterious knowledge, she would have been lost to the current—her body shattered, her life snuffed out.

She smirked as she shook the wetness from her hair, a grim satisfaction filling her. "The leap of faith," she murmured to herself, knowing full well that her escape was just the beginning.

The mysterious words reverberated in Xuanyuan Yufeng's mind as she walked through the quiet wilderness, her footsteps soft but purposeful. "This gift we call a Leap of Faith..." It had been a whisper, an unknown voice that had spoken these sacred words to her, a voice she could not place but felt within her being. Perhaps it had been the voice of a mentor, a forgotten memory, or even a fleeting echo from another lifetime.

"...It is one of the most sacred rites." The reminder came at a time when she felt the full weight of the leap she had just made—not just from the cliff, but from everything she had known. She had freed herself from the suffocating control, the lies, and the manipulation that had bound her for so long. The leap was not just physical, but symbolic of her ultimate defiance, her escape from the trap that had been set by her so-called family, by those who never saw her as a person, but as a pawn in their endless game of power and control.

"...It is not a tool we use against our enemies, but an act we embrace to strengthen our resolve." The words sunk deeper into her heart. This act was not born of revenge, but of her own inner strength. It was a decision she made, not for anyone else, but for herself. She was not trying to destroy anyone, but rather, she was building herself anew.

"...Like meditation, it centers our minds, steadies our hands, and purges fear from our hearts." She had meditated many times before during cultivation, but this was something more profound. She wasn't just quieting her mind; she was stripping away everything that had ever made her feel small, helpless, or weak. The fear of what would come next—she felt it all slip away as if carried off by the current of the river. She wasn't afraid anymore. She felt clear, focused, as if her entire being had realigned itself.

She could feel the fear of her past and the heavy shackles of her old life loosen, one by one, until they were nothing more than distant memories. And when she had leapt from that cliff, she had embraced that moment with open arms—not to escape death, but to embrace life, on her terms.

She had taken the leap and, in doing so, had found her freedom. Releasing her past and embracing her new life. Yufeng felt a renewed sense of purpose. She was free, for the first time in years. Her marriage had been a cage after she woke up from a long slumber, but now she could rebuild her life—on her own terms. One day, she would marry for love, not for manipulation. One day, she would reclaim her life.

With a quiet, determined motion, she concealed her energy, rendering herself invisible to any pursuit. The path forward was long, but she would endure. The villa, her past, would soon be nothing but a memory—a dark chapter in her life that she had now closed. She could not take her children with her, but she would return for Li Xuan, her most loyal attendant who is currently waiting for her. Should she meet them in the future, she would offer them a choice, a chance to escape this place with her, but the decision would be theirs.

Xuanyuan Yufeng soared into the sky, the wind rushing around her as she ascended, her newly crafted cloak billowing like a dark shadow against the morning sky. From high above, she gazed down at the villa—the place that had once been her prison. The sprawling estate, now just a distant memory, seemed so small from this height, its walls no longer able to contain her.

For a brief moment, she lingered in the clouds, watching the place she had once called home, feeling the weight of everything she had left behind. The betrayal, the manipulation, the years of forced silence—all of it felt like a lifetime ago. Below her, the villa's imposing structures were but fleeting images in her mind, a life she would never return to.

Then, without a second glance, she turned, her figure a blur against the open sky. With a final, graceful sweep of her cloak, she vanished into the wind, the world beneath her stretching out in endless possibility. The leap of faith had been only the beginning. Her future awaited, and nothing would hold her back now.

----------------------------

Li Xuan emerged from the cave formation, following the path her mistress had laid out for her. The journey led her to a secluded underground lake, its waters serene and reflecting the vast hole above, where the sky peeked through. The sight was tranquil, almost surreal, but there was a quiet, unsettling feeling that lingered.

As she ventured further, Li Xuan stumbled upon a small house nestled at the edge of the lake, its structure simple yet sturdy. "Is this the safehouse Mistress spoke of?" she murmured, stepping inside.

The interior was well-stocked—firewood stacked by the fireplace, spatial bags filled with provisions, and enough supplies to last for some time. It was clear her mistress had prepared for this. Li Xuan couldn't help but wonder how long her mistress had been planning this, how long she had been quietly plotting her escape from the villa's oppressive grasp.

She waited for hours and still no sign of her mistress. She began to worry.

Her thoughts were interrupted by a faint creak of the door. Li Xuan quickly turned, her heart leaping as she saw the familiar figure standing in the doorway—Yufeng, her face partially obscured by a modified hooded cloak.

"Mistress!" Li Xuan's voice cracked with relief as she rushed forward, her tears flowing freely. She threw her arms around Yufeng, unable to hold back the emotion that had been building in her chest.

Yufeng smiled, her expression warm, and returned the embrace, pulling Li Xuan close. "Li Xuan… I'm sorry for worrying you. I had to conceal my aura. They probably won't find any trace in the river."

Li Xuan nodded, wiping her eyes, her voice barely a whisper. "Please… wherever you go, take me with you. I've lost my family… you're the only one I have left."

Yufeng's heart softened at the words. "I will, Li Xuan. You've been so loyal to me. But from now on… should you stop calling me 'Mistress'? I'm not the Villa Mistress anymore now that I defected." She began to remove her cloak, slowly drying her damp hair.

"I... I don't know what else to call you…" Li Xuan mumbled shyly, her cheeks flushed.

"Mother would suffice…" Yufeng suggested, her voice gentle.

"Mother?!" Li Xuan's eyes widened in surprise. She had never had anyone she could call 'mother' before. Calling her Mother will make her the same rank as Ling Jie and Ling Yun. The children of Xuanyuan Yufeng herself.

Yufeng's smile deepened, her eyes warm and understanding. "You don't like it?"

"No… I do…" Li Xuan murmured, her heart swelling with emotions she had never allowed herself to feel. "Please treat me well, mother…"

Yufeng's smile softened as she reached out, brushing a strand of hair from Li Xuan's face. "Of course, I will. Always."

Her gaze then shifted to the table where a meal for two had been prepared. "Now, I see you've made some late supper for us. Have you eaten yet?"

Li Xuan hesitated, her stomach growling faintly, but she shook her head. "No… I wanted to wait for you to come back, so we could eat together."

Yufeng chuckled softly, a fondness in her eyes. "Silly girl… if I didn't come back, you wouldn't eat?"

Li Xuan fell silent, her face reddening slightly. "I wouldn't eat if mother didn't join me."

Yufeng's heart warmed at the sincerity in Li Xuan's words. She smiled, pulling her into a gentle embrace. "Then, I'll make sure to always join you from now on."

They sat down together, the quiet of the evening filled with the comfort of their shared presence.

Li Xuan fell quiet for a moment, then, after gathering her courage, she spoke, her voice steady yet filled with determination. "Mother… please train me!"

Yufeng raised an eyebrow, her curiosity piqued. "Train?"

Li Xuan's eyes shone with an unwavering resolve. "I wish to help you in your quests. Please… I want to assist you, even if it's just in a small way. Please…"

Yufeng's gaze softened, but a hint of hesitation flickered in her eyes. "Li Xuan, I specialize in the arts of killing. Your kind heart may not be able to shoulder that burden."

Li Xuan's face hardened with determination. "Then… I'll become a good version of you. I'll use your arts and kill if I have to. Please, Mother, I want to stand by your side."

Yufeng stared at her adopted daughter, her heart torn between concern and pride. "If you truly want to be my disciple, then I will teach you. You are my daughter, and as such, you will be my disciple. Will you accept me as your mentor?"

Li Xuan's eyes brightened, and without hesitation, she nodded. "Yes… Mother will become my mentor."

Yufeng smiled warmly, a flicker of something proud in her gaze. "Then, tell me, what do you understand by the phrase, 'Nothing is True, Everything is Permitted'?"

The question lingered in the air, the weight of its meaning sinking into the silence between them. Yufeng decided then and there to train this young woman, to share her knowledge, and mold her into the assistant she knew would one day walk beside her, learning the deadly arts that had defined her own life.

As Yufeng spoke, her voice steady and reassuring, she encouraged Li Xuan to believe that the heavens had not forsaken them. She shared the values etched deeply into her heart, lessons that had shaped her into the person she had become. Yet, even as her words flowed, her mind drifted, tugged by the memory of her damp cloak clinging to her. 

The cloak—handcrafted with care—symbolized the hidden identity she carried, a reflection of her struggles and triumphs. It had shielded her, defined her, and become a part of who she was. But as her thoughts wandered, another memory intruded—standing helpless before the edge of a sheer cliff, her cultivation suppressed, her hidden blades useless against an overpowering force. 

The sting of that vulnerability lingered, an unwelcome reminder of how fragile her existence could be. She couldn't afford to feel that powerless again. 

Determination flared within her as her mind sifted through the knowledge buried deep in her consciousness. She saw it clearly now—a solution to tip the scales in her favor. The image of rare, resilient materials came to her, each essential to forging something extraordinary. 

An indestructible iron. 

If she could create it, she could shape it into a form that would shield her when nothing else could. A suit of armor—unyielding and enduring, a second skin to protect her when the odds themselves seemed to turn away.